The Cause of Purposiveness 97 



carboxyl ends of the spirazines. The amino ends 

 are probably in chemical combination with the 

 phosphoric acid radicles of the nucleotides in the 

 nuclear regions of the cells. Since spirazines are 

 so constituted that their external chemical con- 

 figurations are not changed by the addition of 

 amino acid radicles thereto, this proces of assimi- 

 lation should be able to repeat itself any number 

 of times. The theory that anabolism is under posi- 

 tive electric control from the central or nuclear 

 regions will also account for the inherent ten- 

 dency of every living organism to complete its 

 structure, to preserve its integrity, and to main- 

 tain itself in a definite stationary state regard- 

 less of changes of environment. 



Some of the negative ions within the growing 

 protoplasmic structures may become neutralized 

 or lost, but these are probably replenished from 

 the opposite ends of the spirazine clusters. It 

 has frequently been observed that a constant uni- 

 directional circulation of fluid takes place through 

 protoplasmic structures, and if the passageways 

 through such structures are of the order of mo- 

 lecular dimensions then the molecules and ions 

 in their immediate neighborhood may become 

 sorted out by the electric fields of the surround- 

 ing spirazines so as to effect a separation of 

 acid from alkaline substances. With crude arti- 



